Device for returning balls in a playing arrangement of a ball sport

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device ( 1 ) for returning balls ( 24 ) in a playing arrangement ( 20 ) of a ball sport, having a goal wall ( 21 ), wherein a space ( 22 ) in front of the goal wall ( 21 ) and a space ( 23 ) behind the goal wall ( 21 ) are provided, wherein an inclined plane ( 3 ) is provided in the space ( 23 ) behind the goal wall ( 21 ), wherein the inclined plane ( 3 ) leads to a receiving position ( 4 ) of a motor-actuated lifting apparatus ( 5 ) for one ball ( 24 ) at a time, and having a dispensing mechanism, which, in a dispensing position of the lifting apparatus ( 5 ), acts on the ball ( 24 ) in such a way that the ball ( 24 ) can be dispensed into the space ( 22 ) in front of the goal wall ( 21 ). The invention further relates to a motor-actuatable lifting apparatus ( 5 ) for one ball ( 24 ) at a time for use in a device ( 1 ) for returning balls ( 24 ) and to a method for returning balls ( 24 ).

The invention relates to a device for returning balls in a playing arrangement of a ball sport. In particular, a goal wall is provided in the playing arrangement of the ball sport. The goal wall thus defines a space in front of the goal wall and a space behind the goal wall.

German Laid-Open Application DE 10 2008 016 112 A1 discloses a ball lifting device for a toy ball track, by means of which a ball which has been placed in a high starting point and has then rolled on the ball track, which is provided with a gradient, to a low-lying collecting region, is raised to the starting point so that it can roll down again. The device has an upper, rotatable disk and has through openings, bringing the ball to a through opening in the fixed disk. The ball is thereby raised to a higher level.

German Laid-Open Application DE 1 478 227 A describes a device which is arranged in the gutter of an automatic bowling alley, e.g. a bowling lane, and makes it possible, on the one hand, to separate the pins from the balls which have fallen or been thrown into the gutter and, on the other hand, to move the pins into a certain position in front of an elevator. The device has an inclined plane, which is arranged at a low level at the end of the bowling lane and partially covers the gutter. The inclined plane extends from the rear mat of the bowling alley into the vicinity of the wall of the gutter, wherein the rear mat catches the balls and pins and damps shocks. The inclined plane is guided about a shaft and is moved continuously or discontinuously in the direction of the arrows by means of cables and of a motor (not shown). The pins fall between the shaft and the wall directly onto a support or are guided on to said support by inclined planes. Moving bars sweep the surface of the support and transfer the pins to an elevator.

British Patent Application GB 2476893 A discloses a ball dispensing device having a conveyor for conveying balls along a path. The ball dispensing device comprises a direction changing device for balls from the conveying section and a dispensing device for dispensing the balls, wherein the direction changing device has a rotatable element. The dispensing device can be a slide. The apparatus can be part of a football training or recreational apparatus.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,145 A describes a substantially vertical elevator for conveying round and/or spherical objects, e.g. golf balls, between different levels. The elevator comprises a conveyor belt, which is arranged between an upper roller at an upper level and a lower roller at a lower level. A number of spaced carrier planes extends in the transverse direction of the conveyor belt, on which objects to be transferred are situated during transfer.

US Patent Application US 2011/0224026 discloses a net assembly of a goal wall. The goal wall can have openings formed therein and an elastomer provided in one opening. If the football hits an opening containing an elastomer, the football is returned to the user.

It is the underlying object of the invention to provide devices and a method by means of which, in a playing arrangement, balls or spherical objects are conveyed in a safe and trouble-free manner into a user zone of the playing arrangement.

According to a first aspect, this object is achieved by a device for returning balls in a playing arrangement of a ball sport, wherein the playing arrangement comprises a goal wall. The playing arrangement is divided into a space in front of the goal wall and a space behind the goal wall. An inclined plane is provided in the space behind the goal wall. The inclined plane leads to a receiving position of a motor-actuated lifting apparatus for one ball at a time. According to one possible embodiment for dispensing the ball into the space in front of the goal wall, a dispensing mechanism is provided. In the dispensing position of the lifting apparatus, the dispensing mechanism acts on the ball in such a way that the ball can be dispensed into the space in front of the goal wall. According to one embodiment, the dispensing mechanism acts on the ball in such a way in the dispensing position of the lifting apparatus that the ball is transferred into the space in front of the goal wall by the momentum of the dispensing mechanism of the lifting apparatus.

The lifting apparatus preferably has a head, which can be moved between the receiving position and the dispensing position along a linear guide by means of a motor-operated pulling element.

The movement of the head along the linear guide can be limited by limit switches, wherein the limit switches are photoelectric barriers, proximity switches, threshold switches or contact-sensitive switching elements, for example. In particular, the limit switches can be designed as actuating lever switches, e.g. as roller lever switches. One limit switch can be provided in the receiving position and a further limit switch can be provided in the dispensing position. Once the head has reached the respective receiving position or dispensing position, the electric drive is switched off.

The head is preferably assigned at least one sensor, by means of which it is possible to detect whether a ball is in the receiving position of the lifting apparatus. If the sensor or sensors detect that the ball is in the receiving position of the lifting apparatus, the head of the lifting apparatus is set in motion with the ball, and the ball is transferred to the dispensing position. The sensor is preferably a photoelectric barrier.

The sensor by means of which it is possible to detect whether a ball is in the receiving position of the lifting apparatus is rigidly connected to the head, for example. Among the advantages thereof is that the sensor can also be used to detect whether a ball is still in the dispensing position of the lifting apparatus or whether the ball has already been dispensed into the space in front of the goal wall by the dispensing mechanism.

In an alternative embodiment, the sensor by means of which it is possible to detect whether a ball is in the receiving position of the lifting apparatus is fitted in a fixed manner to a housing of the lifting apparatus, i.e. rigidly connected to said housing. In this case, an additional sensor, by means of which it is possible to detect whether a ball has been dispensed, can be provided, said sensor likewise being connected in a fixed manner to the housing of the lifting apparatus, for example.

The sensor by means of which it is possible to detect whether a ball is in the receiving position of the lifting apparatus can be a photoelectric barrier, for example. As an alternative, the sensor can comprise limit switches, wherein the limit switches are photoelectric barriers, proximity switches, threshold switches or contact-sensitive switching elements, for example. In particular, the limit switches can be designed as actuating lever switches, e.g. as roller lever switches.

A corresponding statement applies to the sensor by means of which it is possible to detect whether a ball has been dispensed.

Provision can be made for a signal of the sensor indicating that a ball is in the receiving position of the lifting apparatus to lead directly to the head with the lifting apparatus being set in motion and the ball being transferred to the dispensing position. As an alternative, a response time can be provided, e.g. from 0.01 to 5 s, in particular from 1 to 2 s.

The lifting apparatus has, for example, an inelastic element which at least partially absorbs the momentum of a ball arriving in the receiving position. The inelastic element can have foam layers or leaf springs, for example.

The dispensing mechanism carries out the dispensing of the ball into the space in front of the goal wall by imparting a momentum to the ball. The dispensing mechanism can be configured in various different ways. For example, it can be configured as a pivotable lever, wherein the pivoting motion imparts the momentum to the ball. That end of the pivotable lever which makes contact with the ball can be provided with an elastic element which damps the momentum acting on the ball.

The dispensing mechanism can comprise a limit switch, wherein the limit switch is a photoelectric barrier, a proximity switch, threshold switch or a contact-sensitive switching element, for example. In particular, the limit switch can be designed as an actuating lever switch, e.g. as a roller lever switch. The limit switch can be connected mechanically or electronically to the pivotable lever.

The dispensing mechanism can be connected rigidly to the head of the lifting apparatus. As the head moves, the limit switch interacts with the housing of the lifting apparatus in such a way that the dispensing position is defined as a particular position of the head of the lifting apparatus.

As an alternative, the dispensing mechanism can also be connected rigidly to the housing of the lifting apparatus. As the head moves, the limit switch interacts with the head of the lifting apparatus in such a way that the dispensing position is defined as a particular position of the head of the lifting apparatus.

In order to transfer the ball from the receiving position to the dispensing position, two bars are secured on the head, said bars being parallel and spaced apart. The bars are arranged substantially perpendicularly to the head and parallel to one another. The bars form a rest and a holder for the ball to be lifted. It is self-evident for a person skilled in the art that the rest and holder can also be constructed in some other form than in the form of the bars, e.g. in the form of a plate or trough. At the same time, the transition from the inclined plane to the receiving position is, in particular, preferably designed to be so smooth that the ball can ideally come to rest in a stable manner only in a precisely defined receiving position. For example, provision can be made for the guide of the inclined plane to be provided with grooves to receive the bars in the receiving position of the lifting apparatus.

The lifting apparatus is preferably provided with a movable blocking apparatus. Access to the lifting apparatus for another ball is blocked by the movable blocking apparatus when there is a ball in the lifting apparatus and the ball is being transferred to the dispensing position. In other words, access for a ball to the lifting apparatus is blocked by the blocking apparatus when the head of the lifting apparatus is not in the receiving position. The blocking apparatus has the advantage that the operation of the lifting apparatus is secured. By means of the lifting apparatus, there is only ever one single ball being transferred and, in the situation in which the lifting apparatus is in the dispensing position, no additional ball should get into the receiving position of the lifting apparatus. If this were the case, the lifting apparatus would no longer be able to move into the receiving position and there would be a malfunction of the playing arrangement.

Provision can be made for the blocking apparatus and the lifting apparatus to be coupled to one another. In particular, provision can be made for the blocking apparatus and the lifting apparatus to be operated by one and the same motor-operated pulling element. As an alternative, separate motor-operated pulling elements can be provided. The blocking apparatus can be arranged movably along another linear guide or the same linear guide between a blocking position and a free position. The movements of the blocking apparatus and of the lifting apparatus can be coupled to one another mechanically or electrically, e.g. by the use of a common toothed belt.

The blocking apparatus can have an impact plate or an impact roller, for example, to block the access of another ball to the lifting apparatus. The blocking apparatus can furthermore be preloaded in the blocking position by means of one or more preloading elements, e.g. a spring.

The device has an electric fuse to prevent an overvoltage or excess current, for example. The device furthermore has a guard to counter unintentional access to the region of action of the lifting apparatus, for example. The guard can comprise a wooden screen in the region of the receiving position of the lifting apparatus or similar, for example.

According to another aspect of the invention, a motor-actuable lifting apparatus for one ball at a time for use in one of the devices described above is provided. Here, the motor-actuable lifting apparatus can be configured in the manner described above and coupled to the other elements of the device, e.g. to the blocking apparatus.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method for returning balls in a playing arrangement of a ball sport, having a goal wall, is provided, wherein a space in front of the goal wall, a space behind the goal wall and an inclined plane in the space behind the goal wall are provided, wherein a ball which rolls down the inclined plane is received at a receiving position of a motor-actuated lifting apparatus for one ball at a time and guided to a dispensing position of the lifting apparatus, where a dispensing mechanism acts on the ball in such a way that the ball is dispensed into the space in front of the goal wall.

The devices described are preferably designed to carry out the method. Accordingly, the features described in the context of the devices are intended to count as disclosed in corresponding fashion for the method.

According to the invention, it is possible for balls that are in play to be transferred to the space in front of the goal wall. In addition, there is the fact that the transfer of the balls takes place automatically and does not have the effect of interfering with or hindering the playing mode of the playing arrangement. Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the invention form the subject matter of the following figures and the parts of the description relating thereto.

In particular:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a playing arrangement in which the device according to the invention is used;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the device according to the invention,

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the lifting apparatus, wherein there is a ball in the receiving position;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the lifting apparatus, wherein there is a ball in the dispensing position; and

FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of the action of one embodiment of the dispensing mechanism on the ball.

Identical reference signs are used for elements of the invention which are the same or have the same action. The illustrative embodiment shown represents merely one of several embodiments of the way in which the device according to the invention can be configured. The embodiment illustrated should not be interpreted as restricting the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a playing arrangement 20 in which the device 1 according to the invention is used. The playing arrangement 20 comprises a goal wall 21, which divides the playing arrangement 20 into a space 22 in front of the goal wall 21 and a space 23 behind the goal wall 21. The device 1 according to the invention is provided in the space 23 behind the goal wall 21 and is used to transfer balls 24 from the space 23 behind the goal wall 21 to the space 22 in front of the goal wall 21. The device 1 according to the invention comprises an inclined plane 3, which ends at a receiving position 4 of a lifting apparatus 5 for the balls 24. The inclined plane 3 has a guide 9, ensuring that each ball 24 rolls in the direction of the arrow P to the receiving position 4 of the lifting apparatus 5. The guide 9 can, for example, be in the form of two parallel rails, trough-like etc.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device 1 according to the invention. The ball 24 rolls over the inclined plane 3 to the receiving position 4 of the lifting apparatus 5. The lifting apparatus 5 has a head 8, which can be moved along a linear guide 10 by means of a motor-operated pulling element (see FIG. 3) between the receiving position 4 and a dispensing position 7, which is indicated as a chain-dotted rectangle in FIG. 2. The motor-operated pulling element 12 is actuated by a signal from at least one sensor 14 assigned to the head 8 (see FIG. 3). The sensor 14 detects that the ball 24 is in the receiving position 4 in the lifting apparatus 5, thus allowing the movement of the head 8 of the lifting apparatus 5 to the dispensing position 7 to be started.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the lifting apparatus 5, wherein a ball 24 is in the receiving position 4, and FIG. 4 shows a side view of the lifting apparatus 5, wherein a ball 24 is in the dispensing position 7. A motor 16 receives a signal for the actuation of the pulling element 12 from the at least one sensor 14 (e.g. photoelectric barrier) in the head 8. The ball is held by bars 13 (also illustrated in FIG. 2) during the movement of the head 8 from the receiving position 4 into the dispensing position 7. In order to prevent another ball (not illustrated) from moving from the receiving position 4 into the dispensing position 7 into the lifting apparatus 5 during the movement of the head 8, a movable blocking apparatus 15 is provided. The blocking apparatus 15 moves into the receiving position 4 when a ball 24 held on the head 8 leaves the receiving position 4 of the lifting apparatus 5. The blocking apparatus 15 prevents a malfunction or interruption of ball transfer occurring due to uncontrolled access of balls 24 to the lifting apparatus 5. The at least one sensor 14 likewise detects when the ball 24 has been transferred from the dispensing position 7 by a dispensing mechanism 6 (see FIG. 5). Here too, the motor 16 receives a signal for the actuation of the pulling element 12, and the head 8 is moved back into the receiving position 4.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of the action of one embodiment of the dispensing mechanism 6 on the ball 24. In the embodiment illustrated here, the dispensing mechanism 6 is designed as a pivotable lever. When the head 8 with the held ball 24 has reached the dispensing position 7, the dispensing mechanism 6 is triggered, and the ball 24 is transferred through dispensing position 7 to the space 22 in front of the goal wall 21.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   1 device -   3 inclined plane -   4 receiving position -   5 lifting apparatus -   6 dispensing mechanism -   7 dispensing position -   8 head -   9 guide -   10 linear guide -   12 pulling element -   13 bar -   14 sensor -   15 blocking apparatus -   16 motor -   20 playing arrangement -   21 goal wall -   22 space in front of the goal wall -   23 space behind the goal wall -   24 ball -   P arrow 

1. A device (1) for returning balls (24) in a playing arrangement (20) of a ball sport, having a goal wall (21), wherein a space (22) in front of the goal wall (21) and a space (23) behind the goal wall (21) are provided, characterized by an inclined plane (3) in the space (23) behind the goal wall (21), wherein the inclined plane (3) leads to a receiving position (4) of a motor-actuated lifting apparatus (5) for one ball (24) at a time, and having a dispensing mechanism (6), which, in a dispensing position (7) of the lifting apparatus (5), acts on the ball (24) in such a way that the ball (24) can be dispensed into the space (22) in front of the goal wall (21).
 2. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lifting apparatus (5) has a head (8), which can be moved between the receiving position (4) and the dispensing position (7) along a linear guide (10) by means of a motor-operated pulling element (12).
 3. The device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one sensor (14), by means of which it is possible to detect whether a ball (24) is in the receiving position (4).
 4. The device (1) as claimed in claims 2 and 3, wherein the sensor (14) is assigned to the head (8).
 5. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lifting apparatus (5) has a head (8), which can be moved between the receiving position (4) and the dispensing position (7) along a linear guide (10) by means of a motor-operated pulling element (12), and at least one sensor (14) assigned to the head (8), by means of which it is possible to detect whether a ball (24) is in the receiving position (4).
 6. The device (1) as claimed in one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the sensor (14) is a photoelectric barrier.
 7. The device (1) as claimed in claim 2 or claims 4 to 6, wherein two bars (13) are secured on the head (8), said bars being parallel and spaced apart and being arranged substantially perpendicularly to the head (8) and forming a holder for the ball (24) to be lifted.
 8. The device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing mechanism (6) is a pivotable lever.
 9. The device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein a movable blocking apparatus (15) is provided, which is suitable for blocking access for a ball (24) to the lifting apparatus (5).
 10. The device (1) as claimed in one of preceding claims 1 to 8, wherein a movable blocking apparatus (15) is provided, which blocks access for a ball (24) to the lifting apparatus (5) when the head (8) is not in the receiving position (4) of the lifting apparatus (5).
 11. A motor-actuable lifting apparatus (5) for one ball (24) at a time for use in a device (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to
 10. 12. A method for returning balls (24) in a playing arrangement (20) of a ball sport, having a goal wall (21), wherein a space (22) in front of the goal wall (21) and a space (23) behind the goal wall (21) are provided, wherein an inclined plane (3) is provided in the space (23) behind the goal wall (21), wherein a ball (24) which rolls down the inclined plane (3) is received at a receiving position (4) of a motor-actuated lifting apparatus (5) for one ball (24) at a time and guided to a dispensing position (7) of the lifting apparatus (5), where a dispensing mechanism (6) acts on the ball (24) in such a way that the ball (24) is dispensed into the space (22) in front of the goal wall (21). 